Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer in women after skin cancer. About one in eight women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.
There are certain factors that cannot be changed, such as age, being a woman, menstrual history and family history that increase your chance of breast cancer.
However, there are things you can do to help reduce your risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; eating a nutrient-rich diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; limiting alcohol consumption and engaging in a regular exercise program.
By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can empower yourself and make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible.
The good news? Most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.
Regularly examining your breasts on your own can be an important way to find breast cancer early, when it's more likely to be treated successfully. Your doctor can provide instructions on the best way to self examine.
If you are a woman age 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them as well as how often to get them when over the age of 50.